South Sound Eats

Best of luck to Matt and the rest of Sea Grill's employee's.
1 | Left by Joel Mertens | Mar. 25, 2009 at 10:31am

I'm so sorry to hear this. I hate to have to say goodbye to Mike, Elliott, Theresa, Brianne, and everyone else there. My wife and I have had dinner in the bar there on Fridays since the year they opened. I love that place.
2 | Left by Joe Lopez | Mar. 25, 2009 at 11:04am

How very sad. I have grown to love the team at Sea Grill. Heads up for the rest of our fine dining establishments...Elliot is the one of the best waiters/House Mgrs in the biz...someone should snatch him up in a heartbeat! He is pure elegance.
3 | Left by babette | Mar. 25, 2009 at 11:09am

Glad to hear that they are keeping Matt
4 | Left by Joel Mertens | Mar. 25, 2009 at 11:30am

Sad to see Sea Grill go. I enjoyed the few meals I ate there. Though I am not surprised of the closing. I actually expected it to happen at some point. I think if the restaurant was in a different location it would have done better. Putting it down on Pacific Ave. in the Rainier Pacific Bank location would have probably made a world of difference.
5 | Left by Jake | Mar. 25, 2009 at 11:37am

I'm so very disappointed in the closing of one of Tacoma's finest restaurants. The food and service there has always been exceptional. And the beauty and comfortable surroundings made the Sea Grill an outstanding and exciting destination. My very best to Mike the operations manager and his very fine staff of people who sincerely care about their facility and the City of Tacoma.
7 | Left by Bud Magnuson | Mar. 25, 2009 at 2:10pm

Sucks to see them go, I never had a chance to even check them out in the first place! Wah! I will say that I was always mystified and curious about what that place was all about, it would've been nice to see them advertise more though.
8 | Left by broadweezy | Mar. 25, 2009 at 2:39pm

If Tacoma would lobby for carpool lanes and say we need them to continue/keep economic development you would have better luck at keeping businesses in town at least for corporate clients. But once you say, "who needs carpool lanes," and have lack of backbone in Olympia you lose. There is no way I would put my corporate customers on a bus to go to Tacoma and have them be upset with a 1.5-2 hour bus ride during evening dinner hour traffic just to go to a great restaurant, when I can put them on the same bus and zoom to Bellevue and Seattle using carpool/express lanes. Everytime there is a backup in Tacoma and no carpool lanes you lose corporate clients.... cha-ching.
9 | Left by Heidi | Mar. 25, 2009 at 2:40pm

What great food they had! I agree with the person that said it was the location that kept them down. While I could see the Pacific Grill on the "main" road, it was hard for me to even tell where Sea Grill was, despite the sign on Pacific. Sea Grill was WAY better in every way, so it's ironic that it's the one going under. Sad for Tacoma, for sure. Find them a new place, city officials, and keep them open!
10 | Left by JD Lippinkott | Mar. 25, 2009 at 3:35pm

I don't think the similarity of 2 restaurants with such similar names a block apart helped either one of them. It was damn confusing and one of them was bound to fail. The survivor will probably be better because of it. Of course, without a parking lot, it's a challenge for any downtown restaurant (That's why Johnnys Dock and Stanley Seaforts usually get my business).
11 | Left by B Kaufmann | Mar. 25, 2009 at 10:23pm

I am very saddened by this terrible news. The Seagrill has a wonderful quality that cannot be manufactured...a warm and caring team of professionals that make you feel at home. I wish everyone the best in their future endeavors. I hope to see you somewhere else!
12 | Left by Lilli Marlene | Mar. 25, 2009 at 10:46pm

JD@10. I'd argue just the opposite on the PG vs. SeaGrill. PG had them beat on everything from menu to service, ambience and overall value. Still sorry to see them go, but that's restaurants. "Forget about it Jake, it's Chinatown."
13 | Left by Squid | Mar. 26, 2009 at 8:52am

This is very sad news. They were one of the best restaurants in Tacoma. And much superior to Pacific Grill next door. Prices were a bit on the high side, but their food was second to none. I will miss them.
14 | Left by Joe | Mar. 26, 2009 at 10:59am

Squid, Couldn't agree MORE regarding PG having a serious edge over SeaGrill. SeaGrill lost my business after failing to respond to a detailed letter of complaint about a terrible dinner we had there 2 years ago. A letter that was cc'd to Paul Mackay, General Manager and Executive Chef. There are absolutely no excuses for failing to respond.
15 | Left by Northend | Mar. 26, 2009 at 11:22am

Chef Gordon: You are right, of course. When I wrote that PG had SeaGrill beat, I meant it as I happen to prefer your show over theirs. I think PG benefits from having a good restaurant next door, exactly the same way that McDonald's benefits when Burger King locates across the street.
17 | Left by Squid | Mar. 26, 2009 at 4:25pm

This is sad for Tacoma. I've been warning industry insiders for months that restaurant closures will be a common occurence through the rest of 2009. The city's inability to kick start the Convention Center probably precipitated this closure more than parking or anything else. The Convention Center is probably the main reason they built Sea Grill in that location (when a lot of us who also looked at that building didn't have the guts to). Mike Neumann is one of the most dedicated and visionary GM's in the game. Wish I had room for you, Mike. Good luck.
19 | Left by Jon Tartaglia | Mar. 26, 2009 at 11:55pm

I've had to sit back and mull this event over. I really don't want to sound like I'm dancing on a grave here, that's not my intent, even though my opinions on the El gaucho group are well established.

Some might remember that I sounded the alarm bell when Sea Grill stopped lunch service. That was...some time ago.

You can't sell lunch downtown? That's trouble. You need something other than dinner to support cash flow and staffing, unless you are way up at the top end. Sea Grill couldn't figure that out. It may not have been figure-outable.

The Convention center is a perfect example of government not being able to operate a business.The convention center's marketing is hopeless. It's too overpriced and inept. They need some red hot marketing and sales people, and a mass scale catering chef. One who can get the job done, instead of ARA, instead of long winded searches for CIA certificates and certifications, and a stint at Aldo's bistro in Paris.

Me for example. (*wink*)

There are vastly cheaper alternatives in town, the covention center is just a drag on private enterprise, and has not been the boon politicians said it would be. (Right Kevin?)

(Note to Johhny Ladenberg :Golf course ditto, your managment company can't seem to manage food service there either.)

If you are the owners of Hotel merano, you have to have ground your teeth to stubs by now over the rank stupidiity of Tacoma government and commercial property owner greed.

Undoubtedly, the property owner at Sea Grill paid a major role in it's demise. Like most area lessor's, they choose to stand on the tracks with the train that is the coming commercial real estate collapse bearing down on them. They would rather space go un leased rather that lease at a discount. I could care less, except their suicidal inclinations cause them to reach out and grab busineses so they don't have to die alone.

22 | Left by Steve Ramsey | Mar. 28, 2009 at 9:54am

Last I heard the Quiznos on Pac Ave. and Tac Mall Blvd went independent.
23 | Left by Jake | Mar. 28, 2009 at 2:58pm

I had the honor of spending the last night of business with this incredible staff. It was overwhelming to watch the professionalism of this manager and team, and to listen to the out-pouring of love from all of us patrons who were fortunate to be with them. There were lots of misty eyes throughout the entire restraunt and it will certainly be an evening all of us will remember for a very long time. What a shame that we will never have an opportunity to be served by this very special team of people again. THANK YOU ALL for everything!!!!!!!!
24 | Left by Melanie | Mar. 30, 2009 at 1:00pm

I couldn't agree with Melanie's comments more. My wife and I were at the Sea Grill last night, too. For us, there's never been another place in town like it. A lot of people on this blog and over on Exit 133 have speculated about what could have or should have been changed, or what they could have done better. Personally, I really can't think of a thing I would have changed. Over the years it was there, the Sea Grill was our place. To everyone whose efforts made the Sea Grill what it was, you have our love.
25 | Left by Joe Lopez | Mar. 30, 2009 at 3:18pm

I am so sorry to hear that Sea Grill is no more. My husband and I loved going there when we had something to celebrate birthdays or anniverserys. We may find another place to go but Sea Grill will always have a special place in our hearts. The food was always exceptional as well as the service. We will miss you, Sea Grill!
26 | Left by Alana | Mar. 31, 2009 at 12:52pm